Heat resistant suit for use in boiler repair

Abstract

A method of repairing large coal fired boilers and the like using a special heat resistant suit which enables workmen to erect scaffolding in the boiler at about 1100° F. and to enter the boiler at a temperature above 150° F. to make the necessary repairs. Refrigerated air and air for breathing by the workmen are supplied from external sources through a special insulated hose having a breakaway connection with a fitting on one leg of the suit. The refrigerated air is distributed within the suit through apertured tubes and an apertured vest. Air for breathing is supplied to a face mask. A portable air tank automatically begins supplying the face mask when the hose is detached. A harness mounted safety reel and cable permits workers to drop from the scaffolding for fast escape in an emergency. A brake controls the rate of descent.

Having thus described the invention, we claim: 
     
       1. A heat resistant suit for use in high temperature environments in excess of about 150° F., said suit comprising: a pair of heat resistant boots;   heat resistant trousers having legs for overlapping the boots;   means for securing the trouser legs tightly against the boots in overlapping relation thereto;   a pair of heat resistant gloves;   a heat resistant coat having a waist portion for overlapping the trousers and a pair of arms for overlapping the gloves;   means for securing the waist portion of the coat tightly against the trousers in overlapping relation thereto;   a heat resistant hood having a transparent lens and a nedk portion for overlapping the coat;   means for securing the neck portion of the hood tightly against the coat in overlapping relation thereto;   a plurality of interconnected tubes extending within the trousers, coat and hood for applying cool air therein for cooling the body;   an inlet fitting on one of said legs of the trousers connected with said tubes for delivering cool air thereto; and   an elongate flexible hose having one end for receiving refrigerated air from an external source thereof and an opposite end adapted for coupling with said inlet fitting to deliver cool air thereto, said opposite end being disconnected from said inlet fitting in response to pulling on the hose with a force in excess of a preselected level.   
     
     
       2. A suit as set forth in claim 1, including: a face mask for application to the face within the hood;   an air line extending from siad inlet fitting to said face mask to supply air thereto; and   means for supplying air from an external air source through said hose to said inlet fitting for delivery through said air line to the face mask.   
     
     
       3. A suit as set forth in claim 2, including: a portable air tank containing air for use in emergency situations;   means for mounting the air tank to the body;   means for mounting the air tank to said air line;   means for maintaining the air tank closed to prevent the air therein from entering said air line while said opposite end of the hose is connected with said inlet fitting to supply air thereto from the external air source; and   means for opening the air tank to direct the air therein into said air line for delivery to the face mask when said opposite end of the hose is disconnected from said inlet fitting.   
     
     
       4. a suit as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said air supplying means includes a first conduit extending within said hose from the external air source to said inlet fitting; and   said hose includes a second conduit extending therethrough from the external source of refrigerated air to the inlet fitting and isolated from the first conduit.   
     
     
       5. A suit as set forth in claim 4, including a layer of thermal insulation on said hose outside of said first and second conduits. 
     
     
       6. A suit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second conduit is annular in section and substantially surrounds the first conduit. 
     
     
       7. A suit as set forth in claim 6, including an annular layer of thermal insulation on said hose surrounding said second conduit. 
     
     
       8. A suit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interconnected tubes include; a first pair of perforated tubes connected with said inlet fitting and extending within the legs of the trousers;   a second pair of perforated tubes connected with said inlet fitting and extending within the arms of the coat; and   a third pair of perforated tubes connected with said inlet fitting and extending within the hood.   
     
     
       9. A suit as set forth in claim 6, including a perforated vest within the coat having a plurality of apertures for discharging refrigerated air, said interconnected tubes including one tube for delivering refrigerated air to said vest for discharge through said apertures. 
     
     
       10. A suit as set forth in claim 2, including a two way radio built into said face mask, said radio including a voice activated microphone for sending voice communications and a head set for application to the head, said head set having an ear plug for insertion in the ear to receive voice communications. 
     
     
       11. A suit as set forth in claim 2, including: a clear transparent lens on said face mask, said transparent lens on the hood being a welding lens;   a second welding lens; and   means for mounting said second welding lens on said hood for movement between a first position covering the first mentioned welding lens and a second position raised above the first mentioned welding lens.   
     
     
       12. A suit as set forth in claim 1, including: a harness on one of said trousers and coat;   a reel carried on said harness;   a cable wound on said reel and having a free end;   a safety hook on said free end of the cable; and   brake means for controlling the unwinding of said cable from the reel, whereby the safety hook can be attached to an elevated support member and a worker wearing the suit can drop from the support member with said brake means being applicable to control the rate at which the cable unwinds from the reel to contract the rate at which the worker drops from the support member.   
     
     
       13. A suit as set forth in claim 1, including: a harness having a first plurality of straps on said trousers and a second plurality of straps on said coat;   releasable means for securing said first plurality of straps to said second plurality of straps when a worker is wearing the trousers and coat;   a reel carried on the straps of said harness;   a safety line wound on said reel and having a free end attachable to a support memeber to permit the worker to drop from the support member with the safety line unwinding from the reel; and   brake means for controlling the unwinding of the safety line from the reel to thereby control the rate at which the worker drops from the support.   
     
     
       14. A heat resistant suit for use in high temperature environments in excess of about 150° F., said suit comprising: a pair of heat resistant boots;   heat resistant trousers having legs for overlapping the boots;   means for securing the trouser legs tightly against the boots in overlapping relation thereto;   a pair of heat resistant gloves;   a heat resistant coat having a waist portion for overlapping the trousers and a pair of arms for overlapping the gloves;   means for securing the waist portion of the coat tightly against the trousers in overlapping relation thereto;   a heat resistant hood having a transparent lens and a neck portion for overlapping the coat;   means for securing the neck portion of the hood tightly against the coat in overlapping relation thereto;   a harness having a first set of straps on said coat and a second set of straps on said trousers;   releasable means for securing said first set of straps to said second set of straps when the coat and trousers are worn;   a reel carried on said harness;   a safety line wound on said reel and having a free end;   safety hook means on said free end of the safety line for releasable attachment to a support member; and   brake means for controlling the unwinding of said safety line from the reel,   whereby said safety hook means can be attached to the support member and a worker wearing the suit can descend therefrom with said brake means controlling the unwinding of said safety line from the reel to control the rate of descent of the worker.   
     
     
       15. A suit as set forth in claim 14, including: an elongate flexible hose for supplying air to the suit from an external air source;   an inlet fitting on one leg of said trousers, said hose being adapted for detachable connection to said inlet fitting to supply air thereto from said external air source;   an air line extending from said inlet fitting to receive air therefrom;   a face mask connected with said air line to receive air therefrom;   a portable air tank containing a supply of air;   means for mounting the air tank to the body of a worker wearing the suit; and   means for connecting said air tank to said air line in a manner to prevent flow of air out of the tank when said hose is connected with said inlet fitting, and to deliver air from the tank to said air line when the hose is detached from the inlet fitting, whereby air is supplied to said face mask from said external air source when the hose is connected to said fitting and from said tank when the hose is detached from said fitting.   
     
     
       16. A suit as set forth in claim 15, including: a first conduit extending within said hose for receiving air from said external air source;   a second conduit extending within said hose for receiving cool air from an external refrigerated air source; and   means for distributing the cool air within the suit, said distributing means including a flexible tube connected with said inlet fitting to receive the cool air delivered thereto through said second conduit.   
     
     
       17. A suit as set forth in claim 15, wherein said distributing means includes: a first pair of apertured tubes connected with said flexible tube to receive cool air therefrom and extending within said legs of the trousers to distribute cool air therein;   a second pair of apertured tubes connected with said flexible tube to receive cool air therefrom and extending within said arms of the coat to distribute cool air therein; and   a third pair of apertured tubes connected with said flexible tube to receive cool air therefrom and extending within said hood to distribute cool air therein.   
     
     
       18. A suit as set forth in claim 17, wherein said distributing means further includes an apertured vest connected with said flexible tube to receive cool air therefrom and adapted to be worn on the torso beneath said coat to distribute cool air therein. 
     
     
       19. A suit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said first and second conduits are concentric with one another within said hose and the hose is covered with a layer of thermal insulation.